Paw 14: My Big Italian Adventure with Lorraine Bracco

Jill Rappaport on Pet Life Radio

One on one with the Goodfellas and Sopranos star Lorraine Bracco,  as she tells me all about her wild and adventurous new renovation show on HGTV, and opens up about the recent loss of her beloved fur angel, Elsie.

In this episode of "Rappaport to the Rescue" on Pet Life Radio, host Jill Rappaport welcomes the talented Lorraine Bracco. The two discuss Lorraine's amazing experience buying and renovating a house in Sicily for just €1, her beloved dog Elsie, and the joy and comfort that animals bring to our lives. They also delve into Lorraine's adventurous spirit, career highlights, and the emotional impact of being apart from loved ones during COVID-19. It's an uplifting and heartwarming conversation that celebrates the bond between humans and their pets, as well as the resilience and positivity we need during challenging times.

Lorraine Bracco Discusses Senior Pets and Her Italian Adventure on HGTV's Big Renovation on Pet Life Radio

"Be kind, be nice. Life is short. You never know what's going to happen. And treat people the way you want to be treated, basically, is the saying." — Lorraine Bracco

BIO:


Lorraine Bracco is an Academy Award and Emmy-nominated Actress, best known for her role as psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Melfi, who treated New Jersey mafia heavyweight Tony Soprano on HBO’s series The Sopranos and as Karen Hill in the Martin Scorsese film, Goodfellas.  She appeared for 6 seasons on TNT’s blockbuster hit series, Rizzoli & Isles, playing the Rizzoli family matriarch; she co-stars in the much-lauded BBC comedy, Jerk; and recently shot indie feature, The Birthday Cake, opposite Shiloh Fernandez, Ewan McGregor, and Val Kilmer. She also hosts the HLN true crime show, The Dead Wives Club and her new HGTV show My Big Italian Adventure premieres this Fall. Her nationally best-selling memoir, On the Couch, was published by Penguin Random House in 2006 and her diet & nutrition book, To the Fullest, was published by Rodale Books in Winter 2015. Lorraine has two daughters, Margaux and Stella, and has recently become a grandmother.  She splits her time between New York and Los Angeles. 

Transcript:


Jill Rappaport [00:00:00]:
Hi, I'm Jill Rappaport, and welcome to Rappaport to the rescue. Well, we've all had one thing on our mind all week long. Do I even need to say the election? I haven't slept in days, as I'm sure most of you haven't. But would you believe that this month there's actually something going on that, in my opinion, is just as important? It is national adopt a senior dog month. And if you know anything about me and my life, you know I'm all about the senior pets. Giving a loving home to an older pet is the best gift you not only give to them, but you give to yourself. And I can tell you firsthand, as the proud pet parent to so many wonderful seniors, and I'm actually looking out a window right now, and I see my little Havani, CJ, who would you believe is 18 years young and she is literally running around in the backyard. She's deaf now, but her eyesight is great.

Jill Rappaport [00:00:56]:
She doesn't seem to have any arthritis. And every day, as I knock on wood is a true amazing gift. That's my dachshund agreeing with me. He's also a senior. He's eleven years old. That's Oscar Meyer barking in the background, saying, yay. Yay, mom. Promote those seniors.

Jill Rappaport [00:01:13]:
And let me just tell you that they are the most wonderful pets. They usually have been discarded in the twilight of their lives. And when you give them a home, they know that you have saved them literally in the nick of time. They've often been there, done that. They're often housebroken. I like to say that they love to lay on the couch instead of eat the couch. So, please, in honor of this month, and especially if you're thinking of opening up your hearts and homes to a shelter pet, which I hope you are, if you're listening to this show, think about an older pet. It is the most wonderful gift you will ever give to yourself.

Jill Rappaport [00:01:50]:
And that was the impetus, the reason that I came up with the idea for dog bowl on Animal planet, which is puppy bowl for seniors. I thought, we're paying homage to these adorable puppies. They're all getting a home. Why not do the same thing for senior pets? So again, I cannot stress enough how wonderful they are. And I live by the motto, be bold gold.

Lorraine Bracco [00:02:13]:
Yay.

Jill Rappaport [00:02:14]:
See, Oscar agrees with that sentiment. Now, when we come back, someone who truly puts the b in bold and the A in adventurous is my wonderful guest today, the one and only Lorraine Broccoli. Stay tuned. Welcome back to Rappaport. To the rescue. I'm Jill Rappaport. Now, my guest today is best known for her incredible roles in Goodfellas and the Sopranos. And when you hear that sexy, husky voice, no one else could take claim to it other than the one and only Lorraine Brocco, whose laugh, by the way, truly can light up the world.

Jill Rappaport [00:03:37]:
And now Lorraine is starring in one of the most entertaining and creative shows on HGTV, called my big italian adventure. And, boy, is that an understatement. Would you believe Lorraine bought a house in Sicily for €1? Do you realize what that is? That's about a dollar and $0.18 today in Us currency. She bought a house for that, but she had to renovate it, and I mean renovate. When you see this show, you'll understand what I mean. It's on tonight. Girl, what an adventure you have been on. This show is fabulous.

Lorraine Bracco [00:04:15]:
I'm so happy you liked it.

Jill Rappaport [00:04:17]:
It's so you. To talk about the idea of taking this so called house, and you got it for €1. Explain to our listeners what type of house you walked into.

Lorraine Bracco [00:04:30]:
Well, I mean, look, I wasn't expecting a lot because it was just the €1, but I did not expect it to be a dirt floor, three crumbling walls and no roof. Well, that's not true. In the beginning, there was a roof, and it was literally bamboo and hay. So I don't know what I went for it. I really did. It was magical. The minute I drove up and saw the hillside town and the beautiful wheat fields and olive groves and, of course, tons of vineyards, and I think it was the shepherd with his hundred sheep that crossed the road that just sold me on it.

Jill Rappaport [00:05:24]:
It's interesting because you actually read about this and you thought, wow, I would love to do it. Now, considering the condition, you were behind hundreds of people that wanted these so called houses.

Lorraine Bracco [00:05:38]:
Yes. Well, there were 16 houses, and the mayor got 100,000 emails. Oh, my goodness.

Jill Rappaport [00:05:46]:
And what town that these houses are in?

Lorraine Bracco [00:05:49]:
Sambuca de Sicily.

Jill Rappaport [00:05:51]:
And it did help that you're lorraine.

Lorraine Bracco [00:05:53]:
Broccoli, but I laid it on thick, I'll admit. I don't really ever do that. I've done it maybe two times in my life. I think one time, I remember very specifically, was to get on a plane. Don't you know me? I'm on the COVID of your united way or whatever magazine it was. Anyway, yes, I did do it that time. And this time I wrote a really beautiful letter saying that I was an american italian actress, that my family is from Palermo, but my mother was a war bride, and I've never been to Sicily. And I would bring an american network, HGTV, over to film me do the renovations.

Lorraine Bracco [00:06:44]:
So I had to translate it into, you know, they were really cool about it. They came right back and said, come over. We're going to give you a choice.

Jill Rappaport [00:06:58]:
Of three houses, if you can call them that.

Lorraine Bracco [00:07:01]:
Right? You can't. I was shocked. I mean, I do think you see it on the show.

Jill Rappaport [00:07:07]:
I'm like, yes.

Lorraine Bracco [00:07:08]:
Oh, my God, what did I get myself into? And little by little, we did it. And HGTV was great about the whole thing. They really loved the project. So they were good to me and good to the crew and all of the construction workers. It ended up being a family, really. Yeah.

Jill Rappaport [00:07:32]:
You got so close to the people in the village and they would come over and they would see the progress. And then all of a sudden, COVID and I know that you have been literally so anxious to hope get back, you're thinking in the spring to see what you've created, right?

Lorraine Bracco [00:07:50]:
So basically, I did have tickets and everything going in March, and my daughter called me up and she just said, is this a life or death travel thing for you? I said, life or death? No, it's not life or death. She goes, good, you're not going. You cannot go. I don't know what's going to happen. It's not good. I see what's going on in the hospital, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Jill Rappaport [00:08:19]:
And we should mention your daughter's a doctor.

Lorraine Bracco [00:08:21]:
Yes. And God bless her, she's been an essential worker and I'm very proud of her. But she just said, no, not going. And my other daughter lives in Paris. We were going to meet, so I haven't seen them in eleven months.

Jill Rappaport [00:08:40]:
Unbelievable. And knowing how you are and how connected you are to these girls, it must be killing you.

Lorraine Bracco [00:08:46]:
Oh, it's terrible. I tell you, literally, we FaceTime, I would say almost every day so I could see the kids and they have.

Jill Rappaport [00:08:57]:
The show to watch you on. And I have to tell you, we were talking about this just the other know. You were at my house just a couple weeks ago. We had that incredible premiere here, which.

Lorraine Bracco [00:09:07]:
By the way, I never go out. Okay, you can ask Andrew.

Jill Rappaport [00:09:11]:
Okay, I know.

Lorraine Bracco [00:09:13]:
And Andrew promised me he would keep me safe.

Jill Rappaport [00:09:16]:
That's Andrew Saffer from cinema society. We did the screening where we stay in our cars, we turn my riding ring again. And this time it was for this amazing Nicole Kidman and, oh, my God.

Lorraine Bracco [00:09:29]:
Hugh branch, HBO the undoing it's the unrawing.

Jill Rappaport [00:09:34]:
I was on the edge of my car seat, literally. I was so happy to have you here. And I have to tell you, having watched the show, the first one aired last Friday night, you are such a know, we've seen you on television, in movies. This is really right up your alley, Lorraine. I mean, it is so.

Lorraine Bracco [00:09:55]:
Well, listen, you know, as long as I've lived, and I've taught my children this, to be yourself and to treat everyone the way you would treat anybody you meet. Be kind, be nice. Life is short. You never know what's going to happen. And treat people the way you want to be treated, basically, is the saying. And that's what I did when I was in Italy. I mean, even with my Google translate, I would make jokes.

Jill Rappaport [00:10:29]:
You have such an adventurous spirit, obviously, because to go after this project, to read about it and to make it come to fruition, it's all about being adventurous.

Lorraine Bracco [00:10:40]:
Well, I was lucky, too. I was lucky with HGTV, because if they hadn't said to Lorraine, you know, we'll do it with you, I'm not sure I could have done it by myself. I think it would have been much harder. Not the same experience. It was nice that I knew that they had my back. I'll be truthful. That was helpful. Yeah.

Jill Rappaport [00:11:04]:
Because you're going to a strange place that you've never been to before. Walking into rubble.

Lorraine Bracco [00:11:10]:
Right.

Jill Rappaport [00:11:11]:
Don't speak the language, which is, I'm surprised to hear.

Lorraine Bracco [00:11:14]:
Right, right. Well, I lived ten years in France, so I'm fluent in French because my mom was English. She was a war bride. The Italian never really infiltrated the house. Just a couple of words from grandma would say, manja. Manja. Okay, I'm eating. I'm eating.

Jill Rappaport [00:11:36]:
Well, the fact that this show, thank goodness, has made it on the air. It's getting such an incredible reception, and you're one busy lady. You're getting offers, and I understand you're getting ready to do another movie.

Lorraine Bracco [00:11:49]:
I am. I'm getting ready to do this movie in Memphis, which I wish was here in my backyard. But, yeah, it's a true story of this woman who lives in this apartment building and a refugee young man moves next door.

Jill Rappaport [00:12:09]:
Little hottie totty there. Or should I say, what's the name of your company?

Lorraine Bracco [00:12:14]:
Hatsy Tatsi. Hatsi Tatsi is the name of my. It's apparently a very close story to the director writer. So it's very moving.

Jill Rappaport [00:12:27]:
You know, so many women actors today talk about that. There's not any roles or good roles for any woman over a certain age. Obviously that's not applying to you. You have been incredibly busy. Even during COVID you're getting offers.

Lorraine Bracco [00:12:41]:
Well, you know what? I've been lucky. I really have. I've always felt very lucky in my career. I'm a kid from Brooklyn. I never ever in my wildest dreams thought that I would have a pretty solid career. So yeah, I've been lucky.

Jill Rappaport [00:13:02]:
And beloved roles, such memorable roles for you, right, Lorraine?

Lorraine Bracco [00:13:06]:
I've been lucky.

Jill Rappaport [00:13:08]:
I wouldn't call it just luck. There's a little bit of talent in there too, wouldn't you say?

Lorraine Bracco [00:13:12]:
Trust me, there are a lot of talented people out. You know, when I was at the actor's studio doing scenes and whatever, trust me, there is a lot of people with a lot of talent and they.

Jill Rappaport [00:13:26]:
Don'T get the work. That is what you're saying.

Lorraine Bracco [00:13:29]:
Yeah, I was lucky.

Jill Rappaport [00:13:30]:
Well, ever since I met you years ago. And we should mention, it's so frustrating for me because you literally live right down the street from me.

Lorraine Bracco [00:13:37]:
I know.

Jill Rappaport [00:13:38]:
In the Hamptons. And I'm looking at you so frustrated. I wish I could just have you over. We could sit in front of the fireplace, but unfortunately, due to COVID we can't. But I have known you for years and I remember we immediately bonded over our love of animals.

Lorraine Bracco [00:13:54]:
Yes.

Jill Rappaport [00:13:55]:
And of course that's what this network, this show is all about. And when I saw you, I know you suffered just a losing your.

Lorraine Bracco [00:14:04]:
I lost my girl. I got this dog from puppies behind bars. So I got her when she was about eleven or twelve months old and she didn't pass the exam to be. Because what they train the dogs for service guys coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq and they're given to them to help their lives and for them to manage their lives better and acclimate again. My Elsie girl didn't make it and I had put my name on a list maybe ten years ago.

Jill Rappaport [00:14:41]:
You didn't use that clout. You didn't say, do you know who I am? This magazine?

Lorraine Bracco [00:14:47]:
I didn't. So I was very lucky. And they called me and they sent me a picture of this magnificent yellow lab with green eyes and they said, we think this is a good match for you. And I was what? What? Wait a know. I was like, I had forgotten all about that. And the woman who runs it said to me, Lorraine, I have only one request. And I said, ok. She says, if you want the dog, I'd like you to come to the prison to pick her up.

Lorraine Bracco [00:15:23]:
And meet the inmates that trained her and see what we do with puppies behind bars. Now they have it at Bedford and at Fishkill, this program, both in New York. And I went there and I picked Elsie up and I met the women who trained these dogs. And it was, I would say, an experience that kind of changed my DNA.

Jill Rappaport [00:15:54]:
In what way?

Lorraine Bracco [00:15:56]:
Well, one that they were so proud of the work that they had put into the dogs. The dogs are magnificent. My dog had 35 commands now, you know, 35 commands. She could get your keys, she could put the lights on. She would watch your back. She had all kinds of commands that.

Jill Rappaport [00:16:19]:
Who needs a man when you can get a dog that can do that?

Lorraine Bracco [00:16:23]:
You sound like Angie Harmon. I would bring Elsie to the set and she would say, elsie, go get me a martini. Meanwhile, she was on the show. Even Elsie.

Jill Rappaport [00:16:35]:
The show you're referring to is Rosoli and Isles.

Lorraine Bracco [00:16:38]:
Right. And she was a magnificent spirit. She really was. And I have been.

Jill Rappaport [00:16:52]:
I know. I've been there now twice this year. I'm right.

Lorraine Bracco [00:16:55]:
Oh, it's terrible.

Jill Rappaport [00:16:56]:
When I saw you, I wanted to hug you. Unfortunately, due circumstances, we can't. But this dog was truly amazing. You talk about all the commands she had, but she didn't make it through the program because she lacked a few skills that required her to be a finished dog for the program. What was that?

Lorraine Bracco [00:17:14]:
Correct. So what happens was, when she was in a crowd of people, she wasn't the alpha. And when you're in a crowd of people and you have someone relying on you, a vet relying on you, you had to be the alpha. And she was like, I don't know if I like this.

Jill Rappaport [00:17:34]:
And for pet owners, sometimes the alpha can be a bit of a pain in the you know what? Because they're very demanding, demonstrative, strident, know. Needed for the program, but maybe not as perfect in a household. So you really ended up with a pot of gold. And I want to transition into what happened to Elsie, how she ended up becoming the great actor that she was in, Rosalian Isles.

Lorraine Bracco [00:18:00]:
At one time, Angie dated a. I don't remember if it was Afghanistan or iraqi vet. And because the writers, everybody knew Elsie. I brought her everywhere I went because she was so incredible. I mean, it was crazy. Even on a plane, the stewardesses would say, oh, my God, this is the best person we ever had. Fly on our. So the writers wrote Elsie in.

Lorraine Bracco [00:18:32]:
Isn't that she had a reoccurring role? Yep. She had a reoccurring role. And it was so know, she was so good. She was so beloved by the crew. I mean, when we finished the series, the crew members were on their knees, holding her, rubbing her, kissing her. I mean, it was really amazing.

Jill Rappaport [00:18:55]:
And she really was an unbelievably well trained dog. So well suited for the series.

Lorraine Bracco [00:19:02]:
Oh, my God. Yes. It was incredible. It was amazing.

Jill Rappaport [00:19:07]:
And how great was that for you? Being able to take your third child to work with you every day was great.

Lorraine Bracco [00:19:13]:
I loved it.

Jill Rappaport [00:19:14]:
And I understand she got a salary, which you donated back to puppies behind bars.

Lorraine Bracco [00:19:20]:
Yes, she got a salary. I think she got a credit.

Jill Rappaport [00:19:23]:
Was she a sag after a member?

Lorraine Bracco [00:19:25]:
No, not yet.

Jill Rappaport [00:19:28]:
You talk about her, and I see your face light up. And these animals, boy, the joy they bring us. I mean, obviously, you're very blessed to have wonderful children and friends and incredible career, but there's something that these animals give to us, give to our soul.

Lorraine Bracco [00:19:45]:
Oh, nothing like it. I mean, my daughter Stella, rescued a dog. His name is Bandit. And when Elsie passed, Stella very keenly said, can I leave bandit with you? Because I have so much work and the hospital has been crazy, this and that. So she left him here with me for about three weeks, and he really helped know it wasn't like she was all gone. Meanwhile, they used to play. They used to run around this house, knock over furniture. They would have a ball together.

Lorraine Bracco [00:20:26]:
So that having banded around was a comfort.

Jill Rappaport [00:20:30]:
Do you think you can open up your heart and home to another one soon? I know it's painful time, but, oh, boy, wouldn't that be wonderful? Right?

Lorraine Bracco [00:20:38]:
Yeah. I would rescue a dog again. I would do that.

Jill Rappaport [00:20:42]:
Well, you have to come to me, because if you have any preference in mind, another lab. I've gotten a lot of wonderful, close friends. They're forever for angel. And I would love to be instrumental in helping you find that beautiful when and if you're ready, because they just do so much for our lives and even enhance every part of it, personally, professionally. Don't you agree, Lorraine?

Lorraine Bracco [00:21:08]:
Oh, I love it. It's a pal. Yeah, it's really a pal, which I like.

Jill Rappaport [00:21:13]:
And you never feel alone?

Lorraine Bracco [00:21:15]:
No. And, like, you live in a house. Big house. By myself, I never needed a doorbell. I always knew somebody was coming up. The driveway was amazing.

Jill Rappaport [00:21:30]:
Such a wonderful, beautiful spirit. But she'll be forever in your life and ever in your heart, and you gave her a life. And I would imagine now, being busy with this series, promoting the show, getting ready to go to Memphis, that's a good distraction to stay busy and to stay.

Lorraine Bracco [00:21:50]:
True. True. But every morning, I wake up and I'm, like, looking for her, or at night, looking to let her out or to feed her. I don't know. She's still here. What can I say?

Jill Rappaport [00:22:05]:
Well, I have so many here, Lorraine, I'm more than happy to bring one over to keep you company for a few.

Lorraine Bracco [00:22:11]:
All right. Maybe when I get back from Memphis.

Jill Rappaport [00:22:13]:
Now, everything going on in your life, what's left? What else would you like to do? Because it seems like you've dabbled in all aspects of the entertainment industry. What's on your bucket list, Lorraine?

Lorraine Bracco [00:22:27]:
I don't know. That's a really good question. I mean, I would have said build a house in Italy, but I just did. Yeah, I would say get nominated for an Oscar, but I did that, too.

Jill Rappaport [00:22:39]:
You got nominated for an Oscar? A golden globe, Emmys, right?

Lorraine Bracco [00:22:43]:
That's true. I don't know, Jill. It's a good question. I have traveled all over the world and I have know a lot of great things. I'm too old now, but I would have liked to have had more children.

Jill Rappaport [00:22:56]:
You've got wonderful, great daughters, and I get a source of comfort for you. How about during COVID though? Because you've had to spend so much time alone. It really makes you think about a lot of things, doesn't it, Lorraine?

Lorraine Bracco [00:23:08]:
Oh, absolutely. But I have to really say I feel so blessed and lucky. I really do. I had a beautiful home to stay. It's been know. It's been okay.

Jill Rappaport [00:23:26]:
Speaking of HBO, when I watched the sopranos, first of all, I kept thinking to myself, what would Dr. Melfie say to you if you were given this opportunity in Italy and you were saying, okay, I have €1, I'm going to buy a house in Sicily. What would she have said to you, being the logical shrink that she was, would she have advised you to go for it?

Lorraine Bracco [00:23:46]:
It's a good question. I don't know if she would advised anything, but I think she would have asked very practical questions, like, do you speak italian? Do you have any friends in Sicily? Have you ever been to Sicily? I mean, I think she would have asked, have you ever renovated? A know? And since all of those answers are, no way, I'm not sure what she would have said to me. But my kids, when I told them I wanted to do this, they were very funny. They said, well, it's not crazier than anything else you've ever wanted to do, mom. And I thought that was okay. That's good. That meant okay.

Jill Rappaport [00:24:27]:
And you have raised them with the same motto.

Lorraine Bracco [00:24:30]:
Go for it. Yes.

Jill Rappaport [00:24:34]:
Hey, why not? We're only here once.

Lorraine Bracco [00:24:37]:
That's it. If we don't get to come back, I believe that when that day comes, my kids will be able to say, she was fun. We had a great time.

Jill Rappaport [00:24:49]:
That's the motto. That's the epitaph.

Lorraine Bracco [00:24:52]:
Yeah.

Jill Rappaport [00:24:53]:
And she was a great mom to Elsie.

Lorraine Bracco [00:24:56]:
Yes. I adored her.

Jill Rappaport [00:24:59]:
Well, Lorraine, this is such a pleasure for me. You know how much I adore you, and vice versa. And tonight, I'm so excited. Another episode of my big italian Adventure.

Lorraine Bracco [00:25:11]:
At 09:00 p.m., yes, 09:00 p.m. On HGTV. But you know what? I am so thrilled. Even though I've not been back because of COVID I am so thrilled about it. I can't wait to go back.

Jill Rappaport [00:25:28]:
It's your home.

Lorraine Bracco [00:25:30]:
Yeah, it's crazy. I still don't even get that.

Jill Rappaport [00:25:35]:
Well, take me with you. I want to go stay in that house.

Lorraine Bracco [00:25:38]:
Come on. Come on.

Jill Rappaport [00:25:41]:
Thank you so much. I wish you all the best.

Lorraine Bracco [00:25:43]:
Same care. I love and adore you, and I love everything you do for all the beautiful animals that get to cross your.

Jill Rappaport [00:25:52]:
Path on that beautiful note. Thank you so much. Thank you all for tuning in. And as I always say, stay positive.

Timestamped overview:


In this episode of "Rappaport to the Rescue" on Pet Life Radio, host Jill Rappaport welcomes the talented Lorraine Bracco. The two discuss Lorraine's amazing experience buying and renovating a house in Sicily for just €1, her beloved dog Elsie, and the joy and comfort that animals bring to our lives. They also delve into Lorraine's adventurous spirit, career highlights, and the emotional impact of being apart from loved ones during COVID-19. It's an uplifting and heartwarming conversation that celebrates the bond between humans and their pets, as well as the resilience and positivity we need during challenging times.

Key topics and bullets:


€1 Italian Homes Reality: "I wasn't expecting a lot because it was just the €1, but I did not expect it to be a dirt floor, three crumbling walls and no roof."
— Lorraine Bracco [00:04:32 → 00:04:46]
American Identity and Heritage: "I was an american italian actress, that my family is from Palermo, but my mother was a war bride, and I've never been to Sicily."
— Lorraine Bracco [00:06:23 → 00:06:34]
Pandemic Decision-Making: "I said, life or death? No, it's not life or death. She goes, good, you're not going. You cannot go."
— Lorraine Bracco [00:08:04 → 00:08:10]
The Golden Rule in Daily Life: "Be kind, be nice. Life is short. You never know what's going to happen. And treat people the way you want to be treated, basically, is the saying."
— Lorraine Bracco [00:10:06 → 00:10:19]
The Role of Support in Success: "I was lucky with HGTV, because if they hadn't said to Lorraine, you know, we'll do it with you, I'm not sure I could have done it by myself. I think it would have been much harder. Not the same experience. It was nice that I knew that they had my back. I'll be truthful. That was helpful. Yeah."
— Lorraine Bracco [00:10:41 → 00:11:04]
The Healing Power of Service Dogs: "Because what they train the dogs for service guys coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq and they're given to them to help their lives and for them to manage their lives better and acclimate again."
— Lorraine Bracco [00:14:19 → 00:14:34]
Unexpected Partnerships: "And they called me and they sent me a picture of this magnificent yellow lab with green eyes and they said, we think this is a good match for you."
— Lorraine Bracco [00:14:50 → 00:15:01]
The Charm of Elsie: "Even on a plane, the stewardesses would say, oh, my God, this is the best person we ever had. Fly on our."
— Lorraine Bracco [00:18:16 → 00:18:26]
The Comfort of Canine Companionship: "she left him here with me for about three weeks, and he really helped know it wasn't like she was all gone."
— Lorraine Bracco [00:20:05 → 00:20:16]
Considering Relocating to Sicily: "I don't know if she would have advised anything, but I think she would have asked very practical questions, like, do you speak Italian? Do you have any friends in Sicily? Have you ever been to Sicily? I mean, I think she would have asked, have you ever renovated? And since all of those answers are, no way, I'm not sure what she would have said to me."
— Lorraine Bracco [00:23:46 → 00:24:26]

 

"Rappaport to the Rescue" Theme Song Written & Produced by Mark Winter
© Copyright 2020 Song-O-Saurus Music (ASCAP)